>> and now to london for prime minister's question time live from the british house of commons. every wednesday while parliament is in session, prime minister david cameron takes questions from members of the house of commons. prior to question time the house is wrapping up of the business. this is live coverage on c-spa c-span2. >> will the prime minister agree with me that it's perfectly unacceptable for members or perspective members of this house to say anything which supports terrorism? >> well, i agree with what my honorable friend has said, and i think frankly it is staggering that there is someone standing for public office who has said this. in october 1984 when the bomb went off, i felt a surge of excitement that the newness of margaret thatcher's demise, and yet a disappointment of such a chance had been missed. those are the words of the

labour candidate. they are a complete disgrace and i hope the leader of the labour party will get up and condemned them right now. >> ed miliband. >> mr. speaker, mr. speaker, three years ago the prime minister had this to say. the first priority of any government has got to be keeping uk, plc credit rating. that's got to come first at its the only responsible thing to do. could the prime minister answer, how's that going? >> first of all, isn't it amazing the leader of the opposition won't condemn someone who apparently seeks out terrorists? isn't that absolutely disgraceful? people have a second chance when he gets up again. the decision of the rating agency as a reminder of the debt and the deficit problem at this country faces. and, frankly, it is a warning to

anyone thinks we can walk away from it. it's absolutely vital we continue with the work of this government that is cut the deficit by a quarter, as a million extra private sector jobs, and as interest rates at record low levels. i know it's still his policy policy to address excessive borrowing by borrowing more. >> mr. speaker, i was asking about the country's credit rating. about the country's credit rating. and this is what he uses a about our credit rating. that it was a mark of trust in our economy, that it was right up front center with a new economic model. is manifestly published for the general election said this, safeguarding britain's credit rating was the very first of his and i quote, benchmarks for britain, against which the bridge people can judge the economic success or failure of the next government. so does the prime minister except that by the first test he

set himself he has failed? >> if there is a problem of excessive borrowing, why is it his policy to borrow more? that is the question he simply has to answer. if you want to listen to the credit rating agency, moody's say this. moody's can also downgraded the uk's government debt rating further in the event of reduced political commitment to fiscal consolidation. now on this side of the house we know that is a vital work we have to do. will he finally now admit that he is in favor of more borrowing? admit it. >> at militant. >> you always know when he starts asking me questions that he can't answer questions about his own record. the part-time chancellor said he would be a humiliation for britain to lose its aaa credit rating. now, mr. speaker. i know the prime minister is not big on humility.

by his manifesto, but his manifesto did promise he would be accountable and open. so let's give him another ago. simple question. yes or no lex hasn't he failed the first economic test that he set out in this manifesto? >> look, i'm not arguing for one moment that the rating agency doesn't matter. that is his argument, his argument is the rating agency doesn't matter. the answer to do is borrow more not to take any responsibility for the mess they left. it is this government that's cut the deficit by a quarter, that has a million private sector extra jobs and as low interest rates which are vital for the future of this economy. and if he wants to see those economies that maintain their aaa rating, countries like canada and germany that fixed the roof when "the sun" was shining. so let me ask him again, why disney admit his answer to extra borrowing is to borrow more.

have another go, admit it. >> anytime he wants to swap places i will happily answer the questions, mr. speaker. [shouting] and he talked about borrowing. i don't know the last time he checked was. the deficit is rising, not falling this year. these borrowing 212 billion pounds more than he planned. it's easier to grow the economy. let's turn to the reason for the downgrade. can we take from his answers so far that he really believes that this loss of the country's aaa status, which he said at the test has nothing to do with him? >> i'm the one saying this credit rating does matter, and it demonstrates we have to go further and faster on reducing the deficit. but the very fact he won't answer the question about wanting to borrow more, he will never sit on this side of the

house when he won't answer the question about what the country needs to know. now, if he wants to look what's happening in our economy, isn't it interesting that he doesn't mention the other economic news from last week which is 154,000 extra people in work, more people in employment than anytime in our history, youth unemployment down since the election, unemployment down since the election. that is what is happening in our economy. but he can't recognize it. when you see going to admit that we should never listen to someone who sold the gold, robust the banks, a racked up a deficit and can't say sorry for any other? >> i think we can take it now, mr. speaker, that he can't accept the simple fact that he has failed on the first test he set himself, and it's his fault. it happened on his watch, mr. speaker. and borrowing is rising under him. even after all the pain, all the

spending cuts, borrowing is rising because the part-time chancellor's plan is failing, mr. speaker. and the truth is that they are the last people left who think their plan is working and the failure is nothing to do with them. we've got a million young people -- the education secretary, maybe he believes it's true but behind it is completely against the prime minister, mr. speaker. maybe they should swap places. we've got a million young people out of work, the deficit rising not falling, the economy is flat-lining. what further evidence does he need that his plan isn't working? >> let's just examine the points he's just me. he said the deficit is out. the deficit is down by a quarter. he says we don't have support for our plan. cbi, the biggest business organization in the country says we have the right plan for growth. he complains about the level of unemployment. it is down on the election,

rather record number of people in work. those are the facts. now let us look at his policy. let's examine the fact that the new statesman, the in house magazine of the labour party says this, is pretty of the government strategy will never win back public trust. is proposals for the economy will never convince. his credibility problem will only become magnified as the general election approaches. that's not conservative central. that's the new statesman. >> greatest respect to the -- quoting the new statesman. mr. speaker, mr. speaker, mr. speaker, all -- mr. speaker, all he -- [shouting] all we have heard today, all we have are today -- >> order. you are an excitable fellow. very statesmanlike. on your cell. you will get better over time. mr. ed miliband. >> all we have heard today is a

prime minister who refuses to accept that he failed on the central test he set himself. he has failed to the first test he set for himself. it's not just our credit rating that is being downgraded. without a downgraded government, a downgraded chancellor at the downgraded prime minister. [shouting] >> he says the new statesman is straightening the burial. it was the only newspaper that endorsed his leadership. [laughter] i have to say -- i have to say -- [shouting] in this, and this, mr. speaker, in this ask a week, perhaps the best weakens it is this. daniel day-lewis was utterly convincing as abraham lincoln, the right honorable gentleman is utterly convincing as gordon brown. more borrowing, more spending, more debt. [shouting]

>> andrew johnstad. >> thank you, mr. speaker. in the last 10 years, the conservatives have cleared the 19 with 69 pounds of debt left by the liberal democrats -- [inaudible] does the prime minister a gray that tackling debt -- is a road to ruin's? >> i think my honorable friend makes an important one and it is worth recognizing that when it comes to fighting deficiencies and find federal money, local government has an excellent record and we should really say that in this place that they the good record of paying down debt, giving with deficits in being a vision. and, of course, one of the benefits is that reduces your debt interest charges and that's something we have to focus on in this government, in this country. >> thank you, mr. speaker. next month a big event alongside the purchase will be the soccer game at the stadium.

does the prime minister have the same confidence in england winning the triple crown of the chancel had in retaining the credit rating? and as team manager does he intend to change his economic play to avoid a triple debt recession? >> there's a difficult record with prime minister is endorsing various rugby or football teams i won't plan to do that. all i said is a very proud of the fact the welsh flag will be flying above downing street as it should be, and when it comes to the rugby, may the best team win. >> sir peter tapsell. >> has my right honorable friend noticed that since we have a lot in common with united states and japan, lost aaa status, the cost of our international borrowing has actually fallen?

>> my right honorable friend makes an important one, which is what i don't deny for one second the importance of the ratings agencies, the most important test of credibility which is a test you face day in day out in the market is the rate of interest at which you borrow. and the rate of interest at which we borrow is still at record low that it has gone down since the election where it has gone up in many other countries. if we listen to the party opposite it would go up again. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the prime minister will be a web increased need for food banks in constituencies such as mine brought about by his government's failed policy. will he sign my petition calling for action so that no family in uk goes hungry from his policy? >> i will certainly loo look ate petition to the point i would make his first of all, the use of food banks went up tenfold under the last labour government, but a very important change we made asked for by the

trussell trust which does so much to promote the work of food banks was to allow them to be advertising job centers. the last government didn't do that because they were worried about the pr. we put people at a public relations. >> this week the generation of forcing the arctic convoy who died in second world war -- that's the tragic with me it's properly we should remember the 3000 sailors and 55,000 members who gave their lives? >> i think my honorable friend is right to raise this issue and i'm sure we support right across the house of commons for all those who took part in the arctic convoys and all those who served in bomber command. it's none of have that excellent memorial to those who serve in bomber command in green park, it's right where the medal for arctic convoy in the class for bomber command.

one thing i've been stressing to colleagues is it's very important we get on and hand out his medals as quickly as possible because people who served all those years ago tragically we are losing more and more of them and they deserve the medals. i'm proud that under this government they will get them. >> mr. speaker, mr. and mrs. goodwin -- [inaudible] life isn't easy for them, but on the first of april things will become even more difficult because mr. and mrs. goodwin will help to pay the government bedroom tax on their home for 26 years. what justification can there be? >> first of all, i will look at any individual case and the department of work and pensions will look any individual case. but can i just first of all make this point? this is not a tax. attacks is when someone arms of money. it is their money and the government take some of it away.

frankly, the party opposite have got to engage in the fact that housing benefit now account for 23 billion pounds of government spending. that is a 50% increase over the last decade come and we have to address the fact as well that we have 250,000 families in overcrowded accommodation, and we have 1.8 million people waiting for a council house. that is why it's not surprising the honorable gentleman on the front bench is shouting shameful, let him listen to what labour's housing minister said under the last government. he said this, we have reiterated time and again they need to ensure that houses that are too large for people's current needs are allocated accordingly. that is what they said in government. now they are in opposition. all we get is rank opportunism and a responsibility. >> -- the responsibility. >> unemployment in yorkshire is

down at its lowest level in two years, businesses in yorkshire -- ahead of the cbi has said the yorkshire economy is turning the corner. would he ignore current advice from the party opposite? >> i'm grateful for what my honorable friend says. the british economy has been through difficult times, not least because we are recovering from a massive boom and bust, a massive banking bust in the deepest recession since the 1930s. but if you look at what's happening in terms of employment come in terms of new business creation, you can see an economy that is rebalancing. is that rebalancing and that business growth that we need to encourage. >> the prime minister has stood idly by while catholic families across the country have faced soaring energy bills. now over 400 pounds a year. last october the prime minister promised to take action. i think the whole country now wants to know what is he going to do now to keep his promise to

the families to help keep -- heeded their homes the courts we are legislating to make sure energy compass put people on the lowest terrace. when the bill comes in front of the house of commons i hope she will vote for it. >> thank you, mr. speaker. with the prime minister withdrawal the national health service choice and competition regulation that seem to contradict assurances given in the other place, that the government will not privatize -- privatize nhs because i would urge my honorable friend look very closely at these regulations because i think what he will find is they are absolutely in line with the principles the last government put in place and actually the effect of withdrawing the regulation would actually mean that you have more competition in the nhs rather than managed competition, managed by mod. monitor. i think the effect of what he wants to be the exact opposite of what he seeks.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. the energy secretary, the deputy prime minister, the committee on climate change, the chair of the energy and climate change select committee and a group of over 35 businesses ngos and faith groups are among those in this country about the inclusion of a target db congress the power sector by 2030 any energy bill. can the prime minister explain d what his government have failed to include such things in the bills because we don't believe it makes sense to consider setting a target range for 2030 in advance of setting the carbon budget which, of course, covers the period. so it will be taking part in the energy bill but i think setting an advanced wouldn't make sense. >> labour commissions three boards celebrate its 60th birthday party.

we now know those reports were dampening and raise issues such as the party culture that was raised by france five years later. we also know those supports to suppress by the labour government. had they not -- [inaudible] thousands of lives could have been saved? will the prime minister join me in calling for an investigation as to who exactly was responsible for suppressing those reports? >> well, i know what my honorable friend has and will look carefully at the issue that she raises. i think the whole point about the french report is we should use this opportunity to say yes, of course we support the nhs and its founder principle, but not everything in the nhs is right. and weather is bad practice and where there are things going wrong, we need to shine a very bright light on that and make sure not only that we deal with the but we also hold people to account for it as well.

[inaudible] the government give categorical assurances that commissions would not be -- [inaudible] >> the gp commissioners are not forced to put services to tender. it is gp commissioners and the point is it's going to be doctors making the decision about whether they want to expand choice and diversity in the nhs. but i would say to the honorable lady, what is she worried about? what is the labour party worried about? isn't it the case there are lots of voluntary bodies, charities, the hospice movement, organizations like mine, organizations like whiz kids that provide an amazing service for children with wheelchairs? what are we afraid of allowing doctors to say let us have some diversity, let us have some choice, let us make on the side of patient's?

>> two and a half years ago a nine year old became the ninth person to die in a river incident on a rafting exercise. that it appeared to be blatant disregard to commonsense health and safety standards. his parents have campaigned for the criminal investigation, improve standards, and even funding witnesses who traveled to the turkish courts. but their efforts have been frustrated for what appears to be bureaucratic reasons. will the prime minister work with the turkish authorities to gain justice and help when people of the risks of whitewater rafting in turkey? >> my honorable friend is right to raise this tragic case. i will send mike sincere condolences to the family in the terrible can circumstance. i know he's been speaking to the minister for europe regarding this case. i know that our embassy in turkey is monitoring the case

and can again approach the turkish authorities and ask them to keep the family fully informed of any progress and usher the foreign office will listen very carefully, standing up for this families interest. >> i have a vulnerable constituent who has lived in the same house his whole life. his parents had died and he is willing to be rehoused but cannot find an alternative. he now faces homelessness because he simply can't afford the government special tax. in the prime minister explained why he has prioritized a tax cut for millionaires a devastating the lives of older will people? >> the point i would make to the honorable lady is the are 250,000 families who live in overcrowded accommodations. there are 386,000 people who lived under occupied homes. there are 1.8 million people who would love to have a council house a candidate when. of course, we need to build more social homes, and we are doing

exactly that. but in the meantime we should do everything we can to make sure those homes are used in the most efficient and fair way. that is what these changes will help and that is why they deserve our support. >> greg mulholland. >> thank you, mr. speaker. we were our hugely inspired by the wonderful paralympic games in london last year. a triumph for sections of disability. will the prime minister welcome the generation inspired reports which is going to be presented at downing street today as a great opportunity to use the legacy office to improve the lives of young, disabled people? >> i will survive welcome the report that my honorable friend mentions. i thought that the paralympic games were an absolute triumph for britain the way they were put on, and also the way that

the auditoria stated were full for almost every single event but i thought it was a great testament to the generosity of people of this country and their enthusiasm to paralympic. but i think most important thing is the change in perception about what disabled people are capable. i think that is a real gift and something we should encourage. >> thank you the prime minister supports an extension of the bedroom tax but not for people with cancer, people with disabilities or for armed forces families. why? >> as she knows first of all there's a 50 million pounds fund to directly support people as part of this measure. we have addressed very specifically the point about armed forces families where people leaving the home would actually be more than compensated for any costs under our rules. but a come back to the bigger picture, which is the housing benefit is up 50% in real terms.

it now accounts for 23 billion pounds of public spending. and i have to say to the party opposite, if you come a week after week and you say no to the benefit tax, no dig at the housing benefit, no to restricting the growth of benefits, no to the under occupancy measures would go forward, people will simply not believe you have any plans to do with our deficit whatsoever. and you know what, they would be right. >> mr. speaker, education is viewed to be embraced -- [inaudible] this week there has been a glib. a school has found last week that that is being removed without knowing why. and i wonder if the prime minister could use his offices to conform the education office

the reason for because i've 110,000 agitated parents the need to help. >> first of all, i would join her in strong supporting the preschools movement. i think it is a remarkable advance that within just two and a half years we now have 101 preschools that are open. with many more in the pipeline. i know that my right honorable friend, the education secretary, was listening very carefully to what she said about the specific proposal. it's important that we that proposals to make sure they are strong for education, they have parental support, they will raise standards. but i support the preschools movement and i'm sure my right honorable friend will be in touch with her. >> mr. speaker, but owned local authority has been work over the years in improving public health and we recently asked adults to refrain from smoking in children's area. does the prime minister agree with me -- my honorable friend

the member for scotland north and it was a private members on the issue that we should -- introduce a ban on smoking where children are present in people? >> i think we should look carefully at what he and others have said. we are looking across at all the issues about whether we should follow the australians with the ban on packaging. what more we can do on restricting smoking in public places. i think there has been a real health advancers on the measures that have been taken. we have to look at each one and work out whether there's a real public health benefit but i think he makes a good point. >> mr. stuart jackson. >> it has been to since the landmark medical research council report made a direct link between the prevention of nerve defects in childbearing women. such a spina bifida. this policy is mired and

democracy between the food standards agency, the apartment of health and others. will the prime minister do everything he can give his reassurance to the house that he will unblock this log jam to prevent the entirely preventable conditions of hydrocephalus and spina bifida? >> i will look very carefully what my boyfriend has said. it is really true conditions like spina bifida have come down and it's certainly true that it has an important role to play it. in terms of the specific points he makes and the bureaucratic problems identified, i will look at that nebraska the department of health to write you about it. >> mr. speaker, with reece petty, among make my apology, a letter from my constituents of the disabled, we will -- [inaudible] therefore i need a

spare room on those alone. i feel suicidal about his bedroom tax. with the prime minister, consulted with the secretary of state for what expansions, agreed to put the needs of disabled people first and revisit come and revisit something from hundreds of thousands of disabled people and their families to be a disastrous policy? >> this government always puts disabled people first, and that is why we have protected his able benefits. specifically, specifically on the issue that he raises, there is the 50 million pounds fund to support people affected by the under occupancy measure. disabled adults will have access -- they don't want to hear the answer to this directly answers the point. disabled adults will have access to discretion housing payment schemes and it will remain